Mount Vernon Nazarene University student-athletes represented the school well in spring sports, with more than 20 Cougars being honored.
Track and field
The men’s team had five athletes recognized as Academic All-District: seniors Alex Jenney and Zach Jenney, junior Micah Tuggle and sophomores Evan Hodkinson and Marcus Whaley. The women’s team also had five athletes recognized: graduate student Kaitlin Meade, senior Morgan Forney, juniors Makayla Roberts and sophomore Ellyn Coe.
The athletes are selected by College Sports Communicators, which honors athletes for their exemplary athletic and academic performance. To be considered, athletes must have a GPA of 3.5 or better, have attended the university for at least a year and be at least a sophomore. By being recognized, they also are nominees for the CSC Academic All-American ballot.
The men’s and women’s teams also had a list of All-Conference recipients stemming from the Crossroads League outdoor championship meet at Marian University. Brooke Holloway was first in the pole vault at 3.4 meters, Erich Rhodeback won the 110-meter hurdles in 14.74 seconds, and the 4x100-meter relay team of Whaley, Jaden Haldeman, Liam Near and Bryce Wiles placed first in 41.45 seconds.
Haldeman was named All-Conference for his second-place finish in the 110 hurdles, with a time of 14.78. Whaley took second in the 400 hurdles in 54.79 and was part of the second-place 4x400 relay team with Near, Hodkinson and Isaac Ramseyer, who finished in 3 minutes, 19.64 seconds.
Taking third in the 110 hurdles was Connor Williams in 14.89. Tyler Shipley cleared 4.55 meters in the pole vault, good enough for third, and Kyler Dickey was third in shot put at 16.45 meters.
Baseball
Three Cougars were named to the All-Conference team this season, with Casey Kalman and Cruz McFadden earning a spot on the second team and Zackary Hoop being chosen to the Gold Glove team for the second straight year.
Kalman was one of the best catchers in the Crossroads League, both in the batter's box and behind the plate. He was fifth in the league with 274 putouts and had a fielding percentage of .983. Kalman was also 18th in the league in hitting with a .341 batting average, sixth with 16 doubles and 17th with 56 hits. His six home runs were tied for the team high.
McFadden was a beast in the closer role, leading the NAIA with 12 saves and posting a 2.89 ERA. He allowed only nine hits in 26 innings, as well as only nine runs and four walks, and opposing hitters batted .276 against him. McFadden also struck out 25 batters, averaging 8.65 strikeouts per nine innings.
Hoop was fifth in the conference with 24 double plays turned and 12th with 84 assists. The second baseman also had 76 putouts and a .982 fielding percentage.
There were four players named to the Academic All-District baseball teams, which recognizes some of the top players on the field and in the classroom as selected by the College Sports Communicators. Those honored were sophomore infielder Hunter Billman, senior infielder Cooper Crawford, senior pitcher Josh Pettit and sophomore pitcher Maxwell Donawa.
Players eligible need to have a GPA of 3.5 or better, at least sophomore status with a year at the institution, and must have played at least half the season.
Softball
Mount Vernon Nazarene was well-represented in the All-Region teams with two members on first team and one on second team for Region V.
Making the first team was Macee Marcum, who was tied for best in the conference with 52 RBIs and second with a .445 batting average. The senior shortstop blasted six home runs and had an on-base percentage of .486. Marcum was third in runs with 45 and hits with 73, and was fourth in the conference with a .665 slugging percentage.
Kylee Pettit also made the first team in her senior year for her strong play in the outfield. She batted .412, which was fourth in the Crossroads League, and was tied for first with 61 runs. Her 77 hits were good for second in the conference and 18 steals was tops on the team. Pettit was also named to the Gold Glove team and was a CoSIDA Academic All-American second-teamer.
Kaycee Ollis made the second team for being one of the best catchers in the conference in her senior season. She batted .329 and belted three homers and 16 doubles, while driving in 38 runs and scoring 28.
Named to the Academic All-District team were Pettit, junior infielder Mackenzie Hancock, junior outfielder Mallory Shoup, sophomore pitcher Nadia Hoffman and junior pitcher Sheridan Sullivan.
Lacrosse
The men’s lacrosse team had seven players honored by the Heart of America Conference.
Luke Modesto was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year and made first team in his sophomore season. He forced 29 turnovers, amassed 55 ground balls, and was also solid on the offensive end with six goals and four assists.
Sophomore Tyler Dickerson was named to the first team. The attacker was third in the conference with 38 goals and his 54 points was good for fifth.
Brett Townsend also made first team and had 56 assists, which was good for second in the conference. He also tallied 77 points, which ranked third.
Micah Rex was a second teamer in his second season playing short-stick defensive midfield. He caused 18 turnovers and had 54 ground balls this season.
Sophomore Alec Terbovich earned a spot on the second team for his strong play at midfield. He had 21 goals and eight assists for the Cougars.
Josh Jerome also made second team in his senior season. He had 24 caused turnovers, 34 ground balls, two goals and two assists.
Senior goalie Joshua Hageman was also named in the second team, posting a 57.6 save percentage and 8.51 goal against average.
Golf
This season, the men's and women’s teams each had a player honored in the Crossroads League. Brock Dettmer was an honorable mention in his senior season and placed 17th at the Crossroads League Golf Championship with a score of 236. Senior Jewel Goins was also an honorable mention. She placed won the MVNU Fall Cougar Classic and was 24th in the Crossroads League Championship with a score of 243.
